A cover letter is an accompanying letter with your resume that serves to introduce yourself and provide additional information about your skills and experience. They explain why you are sending a resume, tell specifically how you learned about the position or organization of application, and convince the reader to look at your resume. It will be read first<\/b>!<\/p>\nTips<\/h3>\n\n- Customizing a cover letter\n
\n- Review the criteria for the position before<\/b> the writing process<\/li>\n
- Consider what skills\/qualifications<\/b> they are seeking<\/li>\n
- Know the company and why you want to work for them<\/b> instead of their competitors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Meeting their needs\n
\n- Keep employer\u2019s needs<\/b> in mind<\/li>\n
- Explain what you can contribute<\/b><\/li>\n
- Focus on relevant<\/b> strengths<\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t <\/b>recap your resume<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Be genuine\n
\n- Don\u2019t<\/b> directly copy a template or use someone else\u2019s words<\/li>\n
- Show your personality<\/b> and passion<\/b><\/li>\n
- Make it professional<\/b> and conversational<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cover Letter: Anatomy<\/h3>\n\n- Letterhead\u2014SAME AS RESUME <\/b>(just copy and paste on top)\n
\n- Name should be largest font on page<\/li>\n
- Recommended: Include LinkedIn address in contact info<\/li>\n
- Try to limit contact info to 3-4 lines maximum<\/li>\n
- Include 2 addresses if necessary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Address and salutation\n
\n- Follow example:
\nDATE<\/em> (ex: December 01, 2022)NAME OF PERSON\/PROGRAM APPLYING TO <\/em>
\nCOMPANY\/ORGANIZATION NAME<\/em>
\nADDRESS<\/em>
\nCITY, STATE ZIP CODE<\/em>Dear CONTACT<\/em>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n- If location is not listed on the job description, use Google to find a street address for the local office.<\/li>\n
- If position description does not include a contact name, consider using \u201cInternship\/Job Coordinator:,\u201d
\n\u201cDear hiring team:,\u201d or something similar.<\/li>\n - Paragraph #1: What are you applying for and why? (Grab their attention!)\n
\n- Grab their attention with the first sentence: What\u2019s compelling\/unique about you?<\/b><\/li>\n
- Name-drop if applicable<\/li>\n
- Why are you writing?<\/li>\n
- Why do you want to work for them?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Paragraph #2: Why should they hire you?\n
\n- What can you do for them?<\/li>\n
- Do NOT <\/b>focus on what they can do for you but what you have to offer them.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Paragraph #3: Closing\n
\n- Thank them for their time.<\/li>\n
- Request a personal meeting; let them know your availability.<\/li>\n
- Do NOT<\/b> repeat your contact info<\/li>\n
- Ex: \u201cThank you for taking the time to review my resume. I look forward to the potential opportunity to meet for an interview and will follow up on my application in a few days. I am available…[specific days and times<\/b>].\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Signature\n
\n- Follow example:
\nSincerely,
\nSIGNATURE<\/em>
\nTYPED NAME<\/em><\/li>\n- On pdfs, there may be an option to add a personalized signature; if submitting a print-out, may write it in<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n